help with ...idle ????

[nonstopgo68]

hey fellas,

on my 1986 Johnson 40 hp j40elcde w/remote

im having a problem idling , it will run fine until i try to... maneuver around piers and go from reverse to forward or verse visa.

the carbs are rebuilt and i didn't see an idle mixture screw. is there an adjustment perhaps on the linkage that helps it idle?

 

[Daviet]

Re: help with ...idle ????

Is the idle set to proper RPM? There is an idle adjustment screw on the starboard side above where the cables hook up.

 

[jtexas]

Re: help with ...idle ????

you know what they say about the boatowner who repairs his own motor without a service manual...he has a fool for a mechanic...

seriously a manual is highly recommended and, apart from answering questions like "does my carb have an adjustable slow speed needle" (no), it will pay for itself in no time.

look for the idle set screw in a spring-loaded nut. on the muffs, set the idle speed to about 200 higher than it should be, then fine tune it on the water with the motor in gear.

 

[nonstopgo68]

Re: help with ...idle ????

you know what they say about the boatowner who repairs his own motor without a service manual...he has a fool for a mechanic...

seriously a manual is highly recommended and, apart from answering questions like "does my carb have an adjustable slow speed needle" (no), it will pay for itself in no time.

look for the idle set screw in a spring-loaded nut. on the muffs, set the idle speed to about 200 higher than it should be, then fine tune it on the water with the motor in gear.

i have a manual.
it is completely useless. it says nothing about a springloaded screw. i rebuilt the carbs so i knew there were no adjustments on these carbs.
i always search the manual b4 asking a querstion.
mine was 30 bucks , kinda sucks

 

[jtexas]

Re: help with ...idle ????

When I read in your original post "... i didn't see an idle mixture screw...", I didn't understand it to have the same meaning as "there is no idle mixture screw." When I hear words like "I didn't see," I always think it means "I looked for it but couldn't find it, it must be there somewhere."

What with the confusion over slow speed adjustments, and failure to figure out which part of the linkage controls the idle speed, I naturally assumed you must be without a manual, because obviously you'd be smart enough to follow one if you had it. My mistake.

But I know what ya mean, I have one of those useless manuals, too (seloc). it has some good pictures and some general tips, but it doesn't know what kind of carbs my motor has, either. In my experience, you don't always get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get.

So I got the factory service manual, which I highly recommend. Well worth it.

It might not use the term "spring-loaded", that's just how I described it, but it will surely have a diagram and probably a picture with an arrow pointing to it. It might be helpful to know that the idle adjustment advances spark timing only, the throttle valve is always closed at idle.

 

[swick73]

Re: help with ...idle ????

Those manuals do stink.....from what I have learned if u just rebuilt the carbs check your compression if it's good check your timing. I had to rebuild a powerhead because the previous owner never checked it. When I bought it I Thouht it just needed new plugs...boy I was wrong! 600 bucks later and it runs like new.....for now anyways

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: help with ...idle ????

as said you need a real manual. you idle stop screw is part of the linkage, not the carb. it has to be set, with the motor in the water and in gear, then you adjust your cable, and connect it to the motor.

 

[nonstopgo68]

Re: help with ...idle ????

i just looked up a factory manual for mine and its 60 bucks. yikes!
but it will be worth it.

this is my first boat so i guess ill have to pay some stupid tax to go along with it.
i actually cant believe i got it running. it has sat up since 1995.
what was great was hearing it fire that first time.... and my wifes uncle ,who gave us the boat ,had the same sound in his voice when heard it.
Hey!!! Alright!!

so THANKS for all the good info on this site. i have made sure to use your sponsors when i could.